Are poor sleepers changed into good sleepers by hypnotic drugs?

Abstract

Sleep can be measured by subjective ratings, electrophysiological recordings and by the physiological and biochemical changes occurring with sleep. Using these methods, we can select those who rate their sleep as unsatisfactory and those who feel fully satisfied by their sleep. Electrophysiological recordings of sleep show that there are relatively small differences between these good and poor sleepers: poor sleepers sleep less than good sleepers, but not as little as they think. However, the complaints of poor sleepers that they feel unrestored by their sleep should not be dismissed, for investigations employing the tools of physiology and biochemistry have revealed differences between good and poor sleepers that suggest that the sleep of poor sleepers may indeed be less restorative. The actions of hypnotic drugs on sleep can be similarly investigated. Preliminary findings suggest that hypnotic drugs may reverse some of the detrimental metabolic concomitants of poor sleep.